Monday, January 30, 2017

I just feel like we all could use some flowers today. It's snowing here again. My 15-20 minute commute took me an hour because I chose to go through town thinking it was safer. My feet are still freezing. My car is buried and may not make it up the hill. So....flowers it is!

This is one of the first images I purchased from Unity Stamps several years ago when I first fell in love in love with them. It's called Donna Poppy Background.

Using a script background stamp, I created a resist and then later water colored the rest of the card. I've been into coloring more and more lately and find that my cards are becoming more about that than matting and fancy designs. My mojo wanes, I find with lack of time and it's really just about getting back to basics lately.....

Thursday, January 26, 2017

We had a new preacher on Sunday who
preached a great message and totally inspired my time in the Word. I
don't often find myself in Deuteronomy, but here is where I have dwelt
so far this week. Deuteronomy 6:1-7:

“Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it,2 that you may fear the Lord
your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his
statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your
life, and that your days may be long.3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.7 You
shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you
lie down, and when you rise."

I
work with a lot of kids who struggle to follow rules, struggle to
understand the point behind many rules and in general find themselves
wandering in one desert after another desperately trying to find their
way. They need leading, but like the rest of us stubborn humans,
leading is the last thing they seem able to seek, let alone accept.

Rules
{commands} are all about God's desire to remain in relationship with
His children. His law teaches us how to stay with Him.....how,
blessedly simple is that? His law is about His affection for us! I get
that....because in my humanly parental heart, I know what it feels like
to want my child to stay...to share who they are, to talk to me, to seek
my counsel, to allow me to tend their pain and share their joy....no
matter how old they get. I want them to stay. God wants me to stay.
He wants you to stay.

Hopin' to touch some hearts with this perspective and simple truth.....

I
have to add a quick little note about my bible journal page, too! I
{heart} the way it turned out! I used three different alphabet stamp
sets from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps: Shake It Off Caps and Lowercase and Outline Alpha. I also used a few other sets for accents: Stand Tall and Bottom of My Heart.
I stamped everything and then masked off some of the accents and the
Outline Alpha letters. I used post-it notes because I don't have a
better idea...it's kind of putzy, but I like that (especially while
watching the Packer game....I need my coping skills!). After everything
was masked off, I applied four different colors of Ranger Distress
Inks. To finish things off, I added a page marker, some white signa pen
outlines and a little bit of sparkle. Don't you love that sweet little
birdie?? (Stand Tall)

Monday, January 23, 2017

There are a lot of milestones happening around here and, you know....sometimes, that's hard. Learning to drive, figuring out that dating thing, making it through the trials of every day...I made this card for my daughter--just a little way to celebrate and remind her that there IS value in struggle.

I love this stamp set from Unity Stamp Co., Part of the Story because it's gorgeous and truthful and resonates with me for so many reasons!

I've been experimenting with the direct to paper distress ink technique. I've come to the conclusion that I, for sure, need more of the spot sized distress inks!! This is such a fun technique that produces such interesting and unique outcomes. If you aren't sure what I am talking about, take a look at Unity Stamp Company's Quick Tips (the button is right at the top of the store website). You'll have to scroll down a ways to find the technique I'm talking about---try not to get side tracked---LOTS of good stuff there!

Friday, January 13, 2017

I'm sharing my first journaling project of 2017! I'm not much for resolutions and stuff like that. I try to take life day to day and am always trying to be my best self!

I did, however, spend the first weekend of the new year, like I spend many, creating and reflecting on the Word. This is also my first free hand drawing....it was scary-ish, but I had some awesome alphabet sets from Sweet 'N Sassy to pull it all together. All of Me Alpha, Shake It Off Caps, Shake It Off Lowercase.

My study started with Romans 12 and the advice to not conform to this world but to be transformed.....sage and wonderful advice! You can see from my under lines, I find this message noteworthy and to be remembered. As it happens often, my study turned to a wandering through the word backwards from where I was (kind of like how my life works) and I found a true gem without meaning to look for it. I love how His Word so richly meets us where we are and provides insight and inspiration we aren't even aware we need!

Romans 11:18-20: "...remember it is not you who supports the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." This is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear."

All those times I try to fix or figure things for myself--I need to be reminded that it is not me, but the Root that supports me.....such a hard lesson at times, but a good place to dwell, especially at the start of a new year.

To make the "NOTE" multi-colored, I added a few colors of reinkers to a piece of felt for a custom ink pad of sorts and ended up with funky colored letters. I outlined each letter with a black marker before trimming them and adding them to the notecard.